U.S. patent number 4,383,614 [Application Number 06/189,194] was granted by the patent office on 1983-05-17 for clip for releasably locking rails to supports.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Nestier Corporation. Invention is credited to Daniel A. Miller.
United States Patent |
4,383,614 |
Miller |
May 17, 1983 |
Clip for releasably locking rails to supports
Abstract
A track member having a bottom end portion resting on an upper
surface of a support flange has a clip member slidably attached
thereto for movement between a locking position and a releasing
position for respectively preventing or permitting upward movement
of the rail end portion with respect to the support flange. In the
locking position of the clip member, a projecting tongue engages
the bottom surface of the support flange opposite from the upper
surface area on which the track member bottom end portion is
supported. In the releasing position of the clip member, the tongue
is clear of the support flange.
Inventors: |
Miller; Daniel A. (Lebanon,
OH) |
Assignee: |
Nestier Corporation
(Cincinnati, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
22696330 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/189,194 |
Filed: |
September 22, 1980 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/59.2;
211/151; 211/183 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
57/58 (20130101); B65G 1/023 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65G
1/02 (20060101); A47F 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;211/134,187,490,151,186,182,153,183,192 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Zugel; Francis K.
Assistant Examiner: Gibson, Jr.; Robert W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Beall, Jr.; Thomas E.
Claims
I claim:
1. A shelf for an order picking rack comprising: a generally
rectangular frame including opposite side frame members and front
and rear rails, said rails having flanges extending toward one
another inwardly of said frame, an elongated track member having
opposite bottom end portions supported on said flanges, a clip
member slidably mounted on said track member adjacent at least one
end thereof for sliding movement between locking and releasing
positions, said clip member having a tongue projecting therefrom,
said clip member in said locking position having said tongue
located on the opposite side of one said flange from one said
bottom end portion for preventing upward displacement of said one
end portion, and said clip member in said releasing position
thereof having said tongue located in spaced relationship to said
flange along said track member for allowing free upward movement of
said one end portion from said one flange.
2. The shelf of claim 1 wherein said flange has a predetermined
thickness, said track member having a track bottom surface and said
tongue having an upper surface spaced from said track bottom
surface a distance less than said predetermined thickness of said
flange.
3. The shelf of claim 2 wherein said tongue has a beveled front end
portion which slopes upward to intersection with said tongue upper
surface from a tongue front edge which is spaced from said track
bottom surface a distance substantially greater than said
predetermined thickness of said flange.
4. The shelf of claim 1 wherein said track member is of inverted
generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration including a top
web and opposite legs depending therefrom, said legs having
inwardly turned runners extending toward one another, said clip
member having mounting means for slidably mounting same on said
runners.
5. The shelf of claim 4 wherein said mounting means includes
outwardly facing opposite grooves receiving said runners.
6. The shelf of claim 5 including lips on said clip member
resiliently gripping the outer surfaces of said legs.
7. The shelf of claim 6 including opposite tabs extending outwardly
from said clip beyond said legs of said track member for engagement
by a person's fingers to slide said clip along said runners.
8. The shelf of claim 1 wherein said track member is of inverted
generally u-shaped cross sectional configuration including a top
web and opposite legs depending therefrom, said legs having
inwardly turned runners extending toward one another, said clip
member having mounting means for slidably mounting same on said
runners, and opposite tabs extending outwardly from said clip
beyond said legs of said track member for engagement by a persons
fingers to slide said clip along said runners.
9. A one-piece plastic clip member for releasably locking an end of
a track member on a support flange comprising: a generally flat
clip body having outwardly opening opposite longitudinal grooves
therein, said grooves having groove upper and lower side surfaces,
a generally flat tongue projecting outwardly from one end of said
body in a direction generally parallel to said grooves, said tongue
having a tongue upper surface spaced below said groove lower side
surfaces.
10. The clip of claim 9 wherein said tongue has a tongue terminal
end and an upwardly sloping surface which slopes upwardly from said
tongue terminal end in a direction back toward said clip body to
intersection with said tongue upper surface.
11. The clip of claim 9 including opposite lips on said body
outwardly of said grooves extending upwardly and toward one
another.
12. The clip of claim 9 including opposite tabs extending outwardly
from said body in a direction generally perpendicular to said
tongue.
13. The clip of claim 9 including opposite lips on said body
outwardly of said grooves extending upwardly and toward one
another, and opposite tabs extending outwardly from said body in a
direction generally perpendicular to said tongue.
14. The clip of claim 9 wherein said tongue has a tongue terminal
end and an upwardly sloping surface which slopes upwardly from said
tongue terminal and in a direction back toward said clip body to
intersection with said tongue upper surface and including opposite
lips on said body outwardly of said grooves extending upwardly and
toward one another, and opposite tabs extending outwardly from said
body in a direction generally perpendicular to said tongue.
15. A shelf for a gravity flow rack or the like comprising: a
generally rectangular frame including opposite side frame members
and front and rear rails, said rails having bottom support flanges
and upper flanges with notches therealong, a track member support
on said support flanges and having end edges received in certain of
said notches for preventing lateral displacement of said track
member, and means on at least one end of said track member
cooperating with at least one of said bottom support flanges for
releasably locking said one end to said bottom support flange
against vertical displacement therefrom.
16. The shelf of claim 15 wherein said cooperating means is a
slidable clip, slidably mounted on said track member and engaging
said bottom support flange when in the locked position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application relates to the art of clips and, more
particularly, to clips for releasably securing two members
together. The invention is particularly applicable for use in
securing track members to shelf frames in gravity flow racks of
merchandise order picking systems. However, it will be appreciated
that the invention has broader applications and may be used for
other purposes.
Gravity flow racks for merchandise order picking systems include
downwardly inclined vertical shelves formed by rectangular frames
having track members extending between front and rear frame rails.
The track members are adjustable along the rails for accommodating
merchandise cartons of different sizes. The track members are
subject to upward displacement when placing cartons on the racks
and removing cartons therefrom. It would be desirable to have a
simple and inexpensive manner of locking the track members to the
rails against upward displacement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A shelf for a gravity flow rack of the type described has a clip
member slidably secured to the track members for cooperation with a
rail support flange to prevent upward displacement of the track
members.
In one arrangement, the opposite bottom end portions of a track
member are supported on the upper surface of a support flange
having a predetermined thickness. A clip member slidably secured to
a track member has a tongue extending outwardly therefrom with a
tongue upper surface spaced from the track member bottom surface a
distance less than the predetermined thickness of the support
flange. The tongue is slidable along the track member to a position
in which the upper surface of the tongue engages the underside of
the support flange opposite from the upper flange surface area on
which a bottom end portion of the track member is supported. The
clip member is slidable to a position in which the tongue is clear
of the support flange for providing free upward movement of the
track member relative to the support flange for repositioning of
the track member.
The clip member is constructed in one-piece of synthetic plastic
material and includes a generally flat clip body having outwardly
opening opposite longitudinal grooves therein. The grooves have
upper and lower groove side surfaces, and tongue projects
longitudinally outwardly from the clip body. The tongue has an
upper surface spaced below the groove lower side surfaces.
The tongue has an outer tongue end and is upwardly beveled from the
outer end to the tongue upper surface to facilitate movement of the
tongue past the edge of the support flange.
Resilient lips extend upwardly and inwardly toward one another from
the clip body outwardly of the grooves.
Tabs extend outwardly from the clip body generally perpendicular to
the tongue for engagement by a person's fingers to slide the clip
along a track member.
A track member has a generally inverted U-shaped cross-sectional
configuration including a flat top web having straight legs
projecting downwardly perpendicular thereto. The legs have inwardly
bent runners which are received in the clip grooves for slidably
holding the clip to the track member. The resilient lips on the
clip member engage the outer surfaces of the legs for frictionally
holding the clip member in any desired position.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an
improved clip member for releasably locking a member to a
support.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved shelf
having an improved arrangement for releasably attaching track
members to shelf frame rails.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective illustration of a gravity flow
rack used in a merchandise order picking system;
FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view of a shelf used in the rack of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective illustration showing end portions
of track members supported on a frame rail;
FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of the clip member of the
present application;
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional elevational view taken
generally on line 5--5 of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional elevational view taken
generally on line 6--6 of FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows a gravity flow rack for
an order picking system including a generally cubical support frame
A formed by vertical front columns 12, upper front and rear
connecting members 16 and 18, upper side connecting members 20,
lower side connecting members 22 and diagonal brace members 24. A
plurality of vertically-spaced shelves B are supported on columns
12, 14 and are downwardly inclined in a direction from rear columns
14 toward front columns 12.
Each shelf B includes parallel opposite side frame members 28, and
parallel front and rear frame rails 30 of identical construction.
Elongated track members 32 extend between rails 30 for slidably
supporting merchandise cartons which are placed on the track
members adjacent rear columns 14 and slide along the track members
toward front columns 12.
Each front and rear rail 30 includes a bottom support flange 36 and
an upper flange having a plurality of uniformly spaced teeth 38
between which uniformly spaced notches 40 are defined. The terminal
ends of teeth 38 are spaced above and along bottom support flange
36 from bottom flange terminal edge 42.
The track members include roller track members 32a and guide track
members 32b. Roller track member 32a is of generally inverted
U-shaped cross-sectional configuration including a flat top web 46
having opposite parallel straight legs 48 extending downwardly
perpendicular thereto. The lower ends of legs 48 are inwardly bent
toward one another to provide runners 50 between which a
longitudinal slot is defined. Top web 46 has a plurality of
longitudinally-spaced rectangular openings 52 therein and rollers
54 are suitably rotatably mounted to legs 48. Rollers 54 project
upwardly through rectangular openings 52 for rollably supporting
merchandise cartons positioned on roller track members 32a.
Guide track member 32b is of generally the same size as roller
track member 32a and corresponding parts of guide track member 32b
are identified by the same numerals followed by the letter "b".
Instead of having rectangular openings and rollers, guide track
member 32b has an upper web 46b which is centrally reversely folded
to provide a longitudinal upwardly extending guide projection 58.
Merchandise cartons positioned on a plurality of roller track
members 32a have the opposite carton sides guided between spaced
guide projections 58 on guide track members 32b, or between a guide
projection 58 and one of side frame members 28 of FIG. 2.
The vertical ends of legs 48, 48b on track members 32a, 32b are
receivable in notches 40 with the bottom end portions of the track
members supported on the upper surface of support flange 36. Track
members 32a, 32b may be vertically lifted and positioned in
different notches for varying the spacing of the track members to
accommodate merchandise cartons of different sizes.
Each track member has a clip member C slidably attached thereto
adjacent at least one end portion thereof for releasably locking
that one end portion to support flange 36 against upward
displacement therefrom. Clip member C is constructed in one-piece
of synthetic plastic material and includes a generally flat clip
body 60 having a pair of parallel spaced-apart longitudinally
extending projections 62 in which outwardly facing opposite
longitudinal grooves 64 are defined. Grooves 64 have upper and
lower groove side surfaces and groove bottom surfaces. Projections
62 have cam surfaces 66 which slope downwardly and outwardly from
the upper edges of projections 62 toward grooves 64.
An integral substantially flat tongue 68 projects outwardly from
one end of clip body 60 in the same longitudinal direction along
which grooves 64 extend. Tongue 68 has a substantially flat upper
surface 70 and a beveled or sloping surface 72 which slopes
upwardly from the outer terminal end of tongue 68 to intersection
with tongue upper surface 70. Tongue upper surface 70 is spaced
below the groove lower side surfaces. With support flange 36 having
a predetermined thickness between its upper supporting surface and
its opposite lower surface, tongue upper surface 70 is preferably
spaced below the groove lower side surfaces a distance slightly
less than that predetermined thickness.
Opposite tabs 76 extend outwardly from clip body 60 in directions
generally perpendicular to the extension direction of tongue 68.
Opposite resilient lips 80 extend upwardly and inwardly toward one
another from clip body 60 outwardly of grooves 64. The distance
from the bottom of a groove 64 to a perpendicular line tangent to
the upper edge of a lip 80 is substantially less than the distance
from the terminal edge of a runner 50 to the outer surface of a leg
48.
A clip may be installed on a track member 32a, 32b by sliding same
thereon from an end of a track member or the clip may be snapped
into position by engaging the edges of runners 50 with projection
cam surfaces 66 and applying pressure on the clip to deform
projections 62 inwardly until runners 50 snap into grooves 64. The
plastic material of clip C is sufficiently deformable for providing
installation. Clip lips 80 are resiliently deformed when the clip
is installed so that they resiliently hug the outer surfaces of
legs 48, 48b to provide frictional resistance against unintentional
movement of clip member C along a track member.
With clips C installed adjacent at least one end portion of the
track members, the track members are positioned with the vertical
end edges of legs 48 received in notches 40 and with the bottom end
portion of the track members resting on the upper support surface
of support flange 36. A person may then engage clip tabs 76 with
his fingers for sliding the clip members toward bottom flange 36.
Front bevel 72 on tongue 68 allows tongue 68 to move freely past
flange edge 42. The spacing between the bottom surface of a track
member and the upper surface 70 of tongue 68 is slightly less than
the thickness of flange 36 so that tongue 68 is slightly stressed
or bent when clip member C is in its locking position shown in FIG.
6. Tongue 68 is engaging the undersurface of support flange 36
opposite from the upper flange area on which the bottom end portion
of a track member is supported. In order to release the track
members for vertical movement and repositioning, a person simply
engages tabs 76 with his fingers and slides the clip members away
from support flange 36 until tongues 68 are clear of support flange
36.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to
a preferred embodiment, it is obvious that equivalent alterations
and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the
reading and understanding of this specification. The present
invention includes all such equivalent alterations and
modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the claims.
* * * * *